Combined sprayer and wiper device

ABSTRACT

A sprayer and wiper device for windows, furniture and the like, having a tubular handle which pivotally mounts at one end a soft, absorbent wiper pad. The handle carries a cleaning or waxing solution and at its other end a spray device for spraying the solution on window or furniture surfaces. Thus with a single utensil the user can easily spray the desired surface and wipe the same.

United States Patent (721 Inventors ChariesVLlell 1 ltelenleaacled UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,770,826 11/1956 Curfrnsn 96 Orland 8t Milford, Cum. 06460;

2,787,501 4/1957 Tunta............. 3,089,181 5/1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 660.646 2/1964 ltaly Primary Examiner- Lawrence Charles Attorney-H. Oibner Lehmann [13] Assignee lliehard'lurieu New Haven, Conn. by acid lredaity [543 COMHNED SPRAY AND DEVICE ABSTRACT: A sprsyer and wiper device for windows, furni- 2 Clalnm! Drawing Figs.

[52) U.8.Cl....

ture and the like. having a tubular handle which pivotally mounts at one end a soft, absorbent wiper pad. The handle carries a cleaning or waxin. solution and at its other end a A471 [/03 spray device for spraying the solution on window or furniture ......40ll 137-139, surfaces. Thus with a single utensil the user can easily spray [40, 1483221102321 the desired surface and wipe the same.

PATENTEU SEP 7 EH 'k I'WENTORS Charles w B0 4% YiFfAexcmdezv Brads ky E 6 m 5 0% "P 3.1% iii mlw wml 5 I COMBINED SPRAYER AND WIPER DEVICE BACKGROUND This invention relates to combined spraying and wiping devices for windows, furniture and the like.

Heretofore such devices were too costly in their manufacture to attain wide consumer acceptance, or did not have sufficient utility to enable hard-to-reach surfaces or areas such as inside surfaces of windshields to be easily, thoroughly cleaned or waxed. Further, the angular movement or manipulative capacity of the wiper pad in prior devices was insufficient to enable full, easy contact with the desired surface to be had, so that thorough wiping of the same was not possible.

SUMMARY The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior spray and wipe devices are obviated by the present invention, one object being the provision of an improved device of this kind which is especially inexpensive to fabricate and produce and which has as well a large range or capability of angular movement of the wiping pad, all to the end that the low cost and efi'ectiveness will result in wide consumer acceptance. The foregoing is accomplished by the provision of an elongate hollow or tubular handle having a spraying end and a wiping end, the handle itself constituting the container for the cleaning or waxing solution. At the spraying end, the handle has an inexpensive yet effective spray device such as a reciprocable pump, to deliver the solution to the window glass or other surface in a fine spray.

The wiping end of the handle has a pivotally mounted soft, absorbent wiper pad carried by a simple pintle-and-lug mounting means whereby the pad is capable of large angular movement and also limited movement in other directions to enable the glass or other surfaces after being sprayed to be easily wiped clean even though the user's field of action is partially obstructed, or is restricted due to awkward positioning or the like.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of an improved sprayer-wiper as above set forth, which is simple and easy to operate, compact and light in weight, strong, durable, capable of repeated, useful service, and which can have a variety of uses and applications.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the sprayer wiper device being used to spray the inside ofa windshield;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device being used to wipe clean the previously sprayed inside surface ofthe windshield;

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the sprayer-wiper device, taken in a plane through the axis of the pivotal mounting for the wiper pad;

FIG. 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section, the latter being in a plane normal to the pivotal axis of the pad mounting means; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section through a polishing pad con stituting another embodiment of the invention.

The present improved sprayer-wiper for cleaning windows, waxing furniture and the like has special utility in reaching out-of-the-way or hard-to-geeat surfaces such as the insides of automobile Windshields, legs and rungs of chairs, etc. Refer ring to FIGS. l and 2, the sprayer-wiper device is illustrated as respectively applying a thin spray of cleaning solution to the inside surface of a windshield and thereafter wiping the windshield surface clean with the absorbent wiper-portion or pad of the device.

The combined sprayer-wipe: device' comprises a tubular handle having a sprayer poriluu 12 which includes one hart dle end, and having a wiper portion 14 which includes the remaining handle end. Disposed intermediate the ends of the handle l0 IS a transverse watertight wall 16 which may, for ex ample, comprise a Neoprene or other suitable press-fit plug. The handle 10 may be constituted of rigid plastic tubing, or it may be formed of metal tubing such as aluminum or the like. The transverse wall 16 separates the bore of the handle 10 into two portions, one of which (indicated at 12) is intended for holding the cleaning or waxing solution 18.

Mounted on the sprayer portion 12 of the handle is a spray device 20, including an exposed spray head 22 and a siphon tube 24 extending into the bore of the handle portion [2. The spray device 20 may comprise a reciprocating pump, having a plunger shank 26, a pump body or cylinder 28, and a screwcap mounting 30. Further details of the spray device are not given herein since such devices are well known in the sprayer art, and since the pump device per se forms no part of the present invention.

Pivotally carried on the other or remaining end 14 of the handle 10 is a soft, absorbent wiper pad 32, such pad being capable of pivotal movement through an arc of at least a right angle, and also being capable of limited movement in other directions for the purpose of facilitating its application to hard-to-reach window or other surfaces, such as those before which a user cannot directly stand. To a limited extent, the wiper pad 32 has somewhat of a universal movement, and this constitutes an important feature of the invention, as will be later brought out.

Returning to the spray device, the invention provides a novel annular adapter 34 having exterior screw threads adapted to accommodate the screwcap 30. Also, the adapter 34 has a relatively deep annular groove 36 in which the sprayer end portion 12 of the handle is snugly received, and in which it may be cemented by the use of a suitable adhesive. The adapter 34 is preferably constituted of a resilient rubber or plastic substance having appreciable hardness whereby the screw threads will not strip past themselves when the screwcap 30 is applied. The screw threads are closely matched and have a tight fit whereby they constitute a leakproof connection between the cap and adapter. Similarly, a tight leakproof connection is established between the adapter 34 and the sprayer end of the handle 10, by virtue of the snug fit.

In accordance with the invention, the wiper pad 32 is pivotally carried in a simple, low-cost manner at the wiper end portion 14 of the handle. The wiper pad 32 comprises a metal plate 38 having a pair of struck-up apertured mounting ears 40 adapted to accommodate the end, bearing portions of a generally U-shaped pintle piece or wire 42. The pintle wire 42 is clamped in the wiper end 14 of the handle by flattening the latter and pressing together opposite wall portions 44 thereof so that these meet in the plane of the pivotal axis established by the wire piece 42. The end portions of the pintle piece 42 are accommodated in the apertured ears 40 of the pad plate, and preferably the apertures of such ears are in the nature of slots whereby loose connections are established, enabling the pad plate to have a limited wobble or movement other than in the plane of the pivotal axis.

Held against the pad plate 38 is a sponge or foam pad 46, this being secured in place by a wiper boot 48 of Terrycloth, absorbent (Turkish) toweling or the like. The Terrycloth boot 48 is in the form of a flat, closed-end tube having a slit 49 extending halfway into one side and communicating with the open end. The boot is held in place by a small safety pin 50, being drawn up tightly so as to partially compress the sponge pad 46.

The sponge pad 46 is slightly larger than the metal pad plate 38 whereby the end portions are partially wrapped or folded over the plate edges, as clearly seen in FIG. 4. Also, the struck-up apertured ears 40 are not disposed centrally of the ends of the pad plate 38 but instead are offset so that the handle 10 is nearer to one end of the wiper pad 32 than it is to the other end.

The foregoing constructions constitute important features of the invention whereby there is no likelihood of sharp edges of the pad plate 38 scratching or marking the windshield or other surfaces, and whereby the application and use of the wiper pad 32 is made more flexible, enabling the user to reach more readily corner or hard-to-get-at portions of the work surfaces.

Together with the limited universal movement of the wiper pad 32. these features facilitate the effective wiping of the glass or furniture surfaces. The pivotal mounting comprising the pintle piece 42 and apertured ears 40 is seen to be especially simple and low in cost, while at the same time being sturdy and reliable in use. The Terrycloth boot 48 may be easily removed and reversed. and also may be readily washed clean whenever desired, this being also true of the sponge pad 46.

The present sprayer-wiper device has important uses in connection with the waxing of furniture. Referring to FIG. 5, the pad plate 38 and sponge pad 46 may have applied to them a lambswool polisher-type boot 480 which is especially adapted for polishing furniture that has been spray-waxed. in place of the cleaning solution, the handle may contain a sprayable furniture polish or wait, in this connection.

It will now be seen from the foregoing that we have provided a novel and improved sprayer-wiper device which is especially simple in its construction, utilizing a hollow or tubular handle in a unique manner as the container for the cleaning or waxing solution. The sprayer-wiper device employs an especially inexpensive spraying unit comprising the reciprocable pump 20, and has a low cost wiper pad and pivotal mounting means therefor, whereby the overall cost of the unit is held to a low figure.

Variations and modifications are possible.

We claim:

1. A combined sprayer and wiper device, comprising in combination:

a. a tubular handle having a sprayer portion including one end, and a wiper portion including the remaining end,

b. said tubular handle being adapted to hold a liquid solution,

c. a liquid spray device mounted on the sprayer portion of the handle and including an exposed spray head and a siphon tube extending into the bore of the handle,

d. a soft, absorbent wiper pad,

e. means pivotally mounting the wiper pad on said wiper portion of the handle, for pivotal movement through an arc of at least a right angle,

f. an annular adapter having exterior screw threads,

g. said pump including a screw cap threaded on the adapter,

h. said adapter having an annular groove in which the sprayer end of the handle is snugly received.

2. A combined sprayer and wiper device, comprising in combination:

a. a tubular handle having a sprayer portion including one end, and a wiper portion including the remaining end,

b. said tubular handle being adapted to hold a liquid solution,

c. a liquid spray device mounted on the sprayer portion of the handle and including an exposed spray head and a siphon tube extending into the bore of the handle.

d. a soft, absorbent wiper pad,

e. means pivotally mounting the wiper pad on said wiper portion of the handle, for pivotal movement through an arc of at least a right angle,

f. said pivotal mounting means for the wiper pad comprising an apertured hinge member and a pintle passing through the aperture thereof,

g. the aperture of said hinge member comprising a slot to enable the wiper pad to have limited universal movement. 

1. A combined sprayer and wiper device, comprising in combination: a. a tubular handle having a sprayer portion including one end, and a wiper portion including the remaining end, b. said tubular handle being adapted to hold a liquid solution, c. a liquid spray device mounted on the sprayer portion of the handle and including an exposed spray head and a siphon tube extending into the bore of the handle, d. a soft, absorbent wiper pad, e. means pivotally mounting the wiper pad on said wiper portion of the handle, for pivotal movement through an arc of at least a right angle, f. an annular adapter having exterior screw threads, g. said pump including a screw cap threaded on the adapter, h. said adapter having an annular groove in which the sprayer end of the handle is snugly received.
 2. A combined sprayer and wiper device, comprising in combination: a. a tubular handle having a sprayer portion including one end, and a wiper portion including the remaining end, b. said tubular handle being adapted to hold a liquid solution, c. a liquid spray device mounted on the sprayer portion of the handle and including an exposed spray head and a siphon tube extending into the bore of the handle, d. a soft, absorbent wiper pad, e. means pivotally mounting the wiper pad on said wiper portion of the handle, for pivotal movement through an arc of at least a right angle, f. said pivotal mounting means for the wiper pad comprising an apertured hinge member and a piNtle passing through the aperture thereof, g. the aperture of said hinge member comprising a slot to enable the wiper pad to have limited universal movement. 